Flash structure for the camera function of a handheld electronic device

Abstract

A flash structure for the camera function of a handheld electronic device having at least a camera module as well as an image sensor and a camera lens contained in the camera module, comprising an outer cover, an annular reflector, at least a light diffuser, and one or a plurality of fixed light-emitting elements which are light emitting diodes or electronic flashes to provide continuous or intermittent supplemental light source. The center of the annular reflector passes through the camera lens and is formed on the motherboard of the handheld electronic device, and is arranged with a through-slot. The one or the plurality of light-emitting elements are embedded in the through-slot of the annular reflector, arranged around the camera lens, and electrically connected to the motherboard. The light diffuser is disposed outside the annular reflector, outside the light-emitting element and positioned around the camera lens.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flash structure for a handheld electronic device having a camera module, comprising:
 an outer cover, having a through-hole, adapted for disposing on a baseboard of the handheld electronic device where the camera module is located thereat and is electrically connected to the baseboard; 
 an annular reflector, having a ring-shape, embedded on the baseboard of the handheld electronic device and situated around the camera module at a position that a camera lens of the camera module is located at a center of said annular reflector, wherein said annular reflector further has at least a through-slot provided thereat; 
 at least a fixed light-emitting element being embedded in said through-slot of said annular reflector, wherein said fixed light-emitting element is positioned around the camera lens and electrically connected to the baseboard of the handheld electronic device; and 
 at least a light diffuser provided on said annular reflector and situated outside said fixed light-emitting element to encircle around the camera lens of the camera module, wherein said light diffuser is located within said through-hole of said outer cover. 
 
     
     
       2. The flash structure, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said fixed light-emitting element is at least one of a light-emitting diode (LED) and an electronic flash. 
     
     
       3. The flash structure, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said fixed light-emitting element generates continuous and intermittent light sources or simply intermittent light source. 
     
     
       4. The flash structure, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the handheld electronic device includes mobile phones, smartphones, digital cameras, tablet computers and notebook computers. 
     
     
       5. The flash structure, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said fixed light-emitting element is multiple in number and are arranged on the through-slots of the annular reflector in equal or unequal distance apart. 
     
     
       6. The flash structure, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said light diffuser consists of one piece of ring-shaped light diffuser. 
     
     
       7. The flash structure, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said light diffuser consists of two pieces of symmetrical arc-shaped light diffusers. 
     
     
       8. The flash structure, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said light diffuser consists of more than two pieces of light diffusers in circular arrangement. 
     
     
       9. A handheld electronic device with camera function, comprising:
 a baseboard; 
 a camera module located at and electrically connected to said baseboard, wherein said camera module has a camera lens; and 
 a flash structure, which comprises: 
 an outer cover, having a through-hole, coupled on said baseboard; 
 an annular reflector, having a ring-shape, embedded on the baseboard of the handheld electronic device and situated around said camera module at a position that said camera lens of said camera module is located at a center of said annular reflector, wherein said annular reflector further has at least a through-slot provided thereat; 
 at least a fixed light-emitting element being embedded in said through-slot of said annular reflector, wherein said fixed light-emitting element is positioned around said camera lens and electrically connected to said baseboard; and 
 at least a light diffuser provided on said annular reflector and situated outside said fixed light-emitting element to encircle around said camera lens of said camera module, wherein said light diffuser is located within said through-hole of said outer cover. 
 
     
     
       10. The handheld electronic device, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the fixed light-emitting element is at least one of a light-emitting diode (LED) and an electronic flash for element generates continuous and intermittent light sources or simply intermittent light source. 
     
     
       11. The handheld electronic device, as recited in  claim 9 , which is one of mobile phones, smartphones, digital cameras, tablet computers and notebook computers. 
     
     
       12. The handheld electronic device, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said fixed light-emitting element is multiple in number and are arranged on the through-slots of the annular reflector in equal or unequal distance apart. 
     
     
       13. The handheld electronic device, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said light diffuser consists of one piece of ring-shaped light diffuser. 
     
     
       14. The handheld electronic device, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said light diffuser consists of two pieces of symmetrical arc-shaped light diffusers. 
     
     
       15. The handheld electronic device, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said light diffuser consists of more than two pieces of light diffusers in circular arrangement.